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Plant details

The deep green foliage and red flowers of centranthus combine to perfection. Plants look best grown en masse on banks or when allowed to self-seed in walls and paving, where they create a delightful random, natural effect. A background of stone gives them an ideal setting, or they can be teamed with other cottage garden flowers in a border, such as lime-loving gypsophila, pinks and scabious. The plants are also very attractive to bees, several different kinds of butterfly, and other pollinating insects.

Family: Valerianaceae

Genus: Centranthus

Species: ruber

Plant type: Hardy perennial

Flower colour: Rose

Foliage colour: Blue-green

Feature: Flowers, Attractive to wildlife

Sun exposure: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained/light, Chalky/alkaline, Dry, Moist, Sandy

Hardiness: Hardy

Skill level: Beginner

Height: 300cm

Spread: 300cm

Time to plant seeds: March to April

Time to divide plants: March to April

Flowering period: July to October

Reader reviews

Self-seeds abundantly, which may be seen as a disadvantage to some. I love it because I can grow it in shallow soil where virtually nothing else will grow, and it attracts the hummingbird hawkmoth and painted lady butterflies.